Degree Name
EdD (Doctor of Education)
Program
Educational Leadership
Date of Award
5-2016
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Dr. Hal Knight
Committee Members
Dr. Bethany Flora, Dr. Don Good, Dr. Michael Torrence
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare final grades of dual enrollment students in English Composition I (ENGL 1010) and College Algebra (MATH 1130) at VSCC. The study focused on whether students admitted to these courses using COMPASS Writing and/or Math scores are as successful as students admitted to these courses using ACT English and/or Math subscores. Additionally, the researcher examined whether there were differences related to gender and race-ethnicity for each course by entry method. Final courses grades were used to determine success. The population consisted of 4,156 dual enrollment students and was broken down into 2 groups: ACT-admitted dual enrollment students and COMPASS-admitted dual enrollment students. For this study 5,138 dual enrollment grades were used in calculations. Chi-square tests were used to determine significance in the final grades of both groups of students.
The quantitative findings revealed no significant difference between ACT-admitted students and COMPASS-admitted students when comparing final grades in English Composition. There was a significant difference within the two groups when comparing final grades in College Algebra with ACT-admitted students scoring significantly higher grades than COMPASS-admitted students. Additionally, findings indicated COMPASS-admitted females scored more grades of A than ACT-admitted females in English Composition while ACT-admitted males earned more grades of A than COMPASS-admitted females. The difference was significant in College Algebra with both ACT-admitted females and males being at least twice as likely as COMPASS-admitted females and males to score grades of A. While there was no significant difference when comparing final grades between the white ACT-admitted students and white COMPASS-admitted students in English, significance did exist for the White students in College Algebra. White ACT-admitted students had significantly higher percentages of grades of A than white COMPASS-admitted students in College Algebra. Lastly, although data could not be analyzed for non-Whites in English Composition or College Algebra, when reviewing the percentages for both courses, ACT-admitted students’ A grade percentages were higher.
Document Type
Dissertation - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Ellison, Yolanda, "Standardized Testing and Dual Enrollment Students" (2016). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2620. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2620
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.